WASHINGTON, DC - The President of the Color Pigments Manufacturers Association Inc. (CPMA), J. Lawrence (Larry) Robinson, is retiring at the end of June after 38 years with the association. The organization, which represents the North American color pigments industry, will be moving its offices from Alexandria, VA, to Washington, DC on July 1, 2014.

Robinson joined CPMA in 1976 and led the group, which was founded in 1925, as its first full-time chief staff executive. With the continuing growth of the federal government and the resulting fact that Washington was having a dominant role in the association’s and its members’ activities, the decision was reached to establish the CPMA headquarters in the Washington, DC area in the late 1970’s. Robinson had previously served in the Commerce Department, been on the staff of a U.S. congressman, and managed several Washington, DC-based trade associations.

During Robinson’s tenure, CPMA broadened its membership to include Mexican pigments manufacturers, in addition to Canadian and U.S. color pigments manufacturers, as primary members, and opened associate membership to foreign manufacturers that sell in North America, and to intermediates and other suppliers to the North American color pigments industry.

Membership growth rose markedly under his leadership in the late 1970’s and 1980’s. Company consolidations that have been a fixture for the past generation throughout North American manufacturing industries also impacted the size of CPMA, but the association has maintained its strong position as a leading chemical industry association. Major interests of CPMA have been in the areas of development of the color pigments industry, preservation of the environment, fair treatment in tariff and trade, and worker safety and health.

With Robinson’s departure, CPMA is moving its offices on July 1 to Suite 730, 1850 M Street NW, Washington DC. Its new telephone number will be 202/465.4900, but its e-mail address remains unchanged at cpma@cpma.com.

David J. Wawer has been selected by the CPMA Board of Governors to be CPMA Executive Director effective July 1. Wawer currently serves as CEO of the Massachusetts Chemistry & Technology Alliance Inc. in Boston.